Photo: Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0On CDC estimates, Somerville is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns
Somerville differs from New Jersey on 13 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 12 better, 1 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Somerville. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Somerville
New Jersey sets a high bar
Somerville is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, but only 66% of the 468 New Jersey towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
Heart disease and stroke are less common in Somerville
Somerville runs below New Jersey on seven chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (4.1% vs 5.6%), stroke (2.3% vs 3.1%) and COPD (3.8% vs 5.1%). Conditions ↓
Somerville is an active town
Only 20.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 24.8% across New Jersey. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New Jersey figure falls outside Somerville’s likely range.
What’s behind Somerville’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Somerville is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns, #159 of 468 in New Jersey. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is physical distress (fewer adults with frequent physical distress than 94% of towns); the weakest is no exercise, still better than 80%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Somerville’s median household income is $103,760; among the 8,008 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($78K–$130K), it’s healthier than 95%, about where its income would put it.
Most New Jersey towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Somerville is healthier than 66% of graded towns, against 93% nationally.
Out of every 100 Somerville adults…
Somerville runs below NJ on 8 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with New Jersey
Share of adults, with the New Jersey figure marked.
0.8 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves
Care in and near Somerville
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Somerville, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Somerville; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Keeping up with care
Share of Somerville adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Jersey.
How Somerville adults are doing
About the same as New Jersey on each measure.
1 in 3 Somerville adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.6% of Somerville adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.4% across New Jersey.
Somerville and the towns around it
Somerville’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerville | A | 28.2% | 8.7% | 9.1% | CDC place |
| Bridgewater Township | A+ | 24.4% | 9.2% | 7.6% | ZIP codes |
| Finderne | — | — | — | — | |
| Hillsborough Township | A+ | 25% | 8.8% | 8% | ZIP 08844 |
| Raritan | A | 27% | 9.7% | 10% | CDC place |
| Bridgewater Center | — | — | — | — |
Finderne and Bridgewater Center: Census-designated places inside larger towns, graded as part of them. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Somerville adults live with a disability (New Jersey 24.8%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Somerville
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Somerville is better than New Jersey on 12 and worse on 1; on the rest, the New Jersey figure falls inside Somerville’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Somerville | NJ | U.S. | vs NJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 13.5%11.8–15.6 | 17.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.4%9.2–11.8 | 12.2% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 14.4%12.8–16.2 | 14.7% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.2%23.7–33.2 | 28.9% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.7%7.6–10 | 10.9% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 27%24.2–30.1 | 32.8% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 35.3%32–38.8 | 39.3% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 18.2%16.2–20.6 | 22.2% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 8.3%7.4–9.4 | 8.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.1%5.6–6.7 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.1%3.6–4.6 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 3.8%3.3–4.4 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.3%2.1–2.5 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.6%6.9–10.6 | 9.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 9.1%7.7–10.7 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%17.9–24.3 | 24.8% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 15.5%13.1–18.3 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 38%33.3–43.1 | 37.5% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 10.9%9.3–12.8 | 11.3% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.8%72.4–78.9 | 78% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 68.5%65.4–71.6 | 65.9% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 88.3%86.6–89.8 | 89.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 72.2%69.1–75.2 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%59.9–68.7 | 63.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 75.3%68.4–81.7 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 15.3%13.1–17.8 | 15.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 32.9%28.9–37 | 32.4% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 23.5%20.4–26.7 | 24% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 12.5%10.6–14.5 | 14.3% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11%9.4–12.7 | 12.3% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 6.2%5.3–7.2 | 7% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.7%5.8–7.6 | 7.4% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.6%5.5–7.9 | 8.4% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 20.4%17.8–23.6 | 24.8% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 8.4%7.2–9.7 | 11.3% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 10.7%9.5–12.2 | 11.5% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 4.4%3.9–5 | 5.7% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.8%3.4–4.2 | 4.7% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 5.5%4.9–6.2 | 6.6% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.5%2.3–2.8 | 3.3% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New Jersey figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Somerville
Is Somerville a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Somerville is healthier than 93% of U.S. towns: A for health, #159 of 468 in New Jersey. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 95%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Somerville?
CDC estimates 28.2% of adults have obesity, likely between 23.7% and 33.2%, against 28.9% across New Jersey and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Somerville?
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Somerset in Somerville, 0.6 miles in a straight line from Somerville’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Somerville have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 10.9% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.3–12.8%), against 11.3% across New Jersey.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Somerville more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Somerville.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Jersey figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.